The Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM) is the oldest Teaching Assistant Union in the province of Quebec. As a labour union, AGSEM represents graduate Teaching Assistants, Invigilators, and Course-Based Academic Casuals at McGill. AGSEM has bargained with the McGill administration to produce TA and Invigilator Collective Agreements, which are legal documents that protect student workers.
Recent NewsOpen Letter In Support of QPIRG
Dear McGill Community, We, the undersigned McGill union and association representatives, condemn in the strongest possible terms McGill’s notice of default of McGill’s Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Québec Public Interest Research Group at McGill University (QPIRG). QPIRG is an invaluable resource for students and staff at McGill University, advocating for social justice, socially responsible research, and harm reduction, ideals that are in-line with McGill’s mission. McGill is threatening to terminate the MOA because of QPIRG’s support for SPHR.
Unit 3 Negotiations Continue Full-Steam Ahead: Negotiating YOUR Working Conditions!
As summer winds down, our bargaining team is pushing forward to secure strong protections for academic workers. With several key non-monetary issues still on the table, our final session of the season focused on strengthening our rights at work - from job security and workplace solidarity to control over our personal information. Every article we sign brings us closer to a fair and dignified contract for all academic casuals. Read on to find out what we accomplished and how it impacts you.
Unit 3 June Bargaining Newsletter: Progress! McGill finally gives us a proposal PLUS two articles signed!
June was a very big month for AGSEM’s Unit 3. Back in 2024, we successfully formed this unit for Course-Based Academic Casuals by unionizing hundreds of student workers in a wide range of positions, such as graders, course tutors, and course assistants. We began negotiating the inaugural Unit 3 agreement with McGill in March 2025, and we have been discussing our non-monetary proposals. Last month represents a huge step forward: over the course of three bargaining sessions, we signed two articles and we have laid the groundwork to finalize more in the upcoming months!